(part 1)
Being retired, there does not seem to be a need to have a job description. I would like it to consist of taking a nap every day, spending time with my grandkids, walking my dog, and just hanging out with my husband.
That would be the ideal description. Except I’m not sure God would find it as an acceptable one. And actually, I have such a strong desire to serve the Lord, I could not accept it either. God consistently tells us in his Word (the Bible) that we need to be obedient to Him and faithful to what He calls us to do.
To me, there are obvious parts of our job description (from here on I will use JD for job description…not because I am lazy, just the repetition of the words ‘job description’ was annoying me!). I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, a sister (sil), a friend, a volunteer and a member of my church. All of those roles play a part in my JD. To bring honor and glory to God, obedience and show His love is primary.
I think I could divide them but not separate them by earthly and spiritual (for eternity). They often cross over and that is my hope.
But as I continue to contemplate the concept of a JD from the Lord, I need to assess not only what I am doing, but what skills and gifts He has given me through His Holy Spirit.
We are aware in Corinthians that there are gifts of the Spirit. But this is only a list of maybe 15 and it is not exhaustive. Many more can be found when looking through other passages of the Bible. Since God has created over 117 billion people each one different and unique, I think He has probably given us different and unique gifts too. They may relate to the gifts in some way shape or form listed in Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians and 1 Peter, but they are all, in my opinion, unique to each of us.
Gifts of the Spirit are described by two Greek words. Pneumatika which refers to their source, the Holy Spirit (pneuma); and charismata which refers to the fact they are granted as an act of God’s grace (charis). These gifts are given by the Holy Spirit thus, the gifts are a part of our new life in Christ. They have been endowed with grace on us from God. Each person owns their gift and may use it however, the person wants to (or not).
So my question is what grace endowments has God given me?
Being God’s image-bearers means that human beings have a particular vocation, a task to perform within God’s wider purposes for the world. This task involves, among other things, reflecting God’s creative and redemptive character into the world, bringing order out of chaos, and caring for God’s creation. NT Wright
I looked to my natural God-given instincts and to the path that God has laid before me.
He’s given me a deep love for and interest in people, not only that but a desire to pray for them and to pray with them. I have prayed with more people I do not know (in the last couple of years) than with people I know. I’ve done this out of obedience to God. Not because it is comfortable for me. (But I keep telling myself better be a fool for God than just be a fool!)
More times than not, the stranger I prayed with said that God knew they needed this meeting/prayer time that day. Not because of anything I said…well-ll maybe, but honestly I don’t usually know what I was praying…that’s how God works through me. (Part of my JD.)
Another aspect of that gift that He has endowed me with is to be able to make small talk. I may be on the stairs of a doctor’s office, in a garden center or grocery store or any store for that matter. As I turn to them to talk, I can often see the pain/fear/anxiety behind their eyes…sounds weird right? I don’t know any other way to describe it. And at that point, I ask if I may pray with them. Occasionally I will tell them what I see. It depends on how the Lord leads.
One day I was seated in a waiting room staring at the back of a woman’s head. I could not take my eyes off of it. And told the Lord it would be very strange for me to change seats and ask if I could pray for her. We argued…God won. I walked over, sat next to her and told her the truth. “I was staring at the back of your head and God told me to pray for you”. (How do you like that for an introduction…so smooth, huh?) Her face softened and told me her needs. I prayed.
It makes my day when God gives me that type of opportunity! If I go into town and don’t get to pray with someone, I am disappointed or wonder if I am not listening.
How would I classify that gift? A gift of prayer…yes. A gift of seeing…yes. And (can you count this?) a gift of gab…yes. Oh, and of course…the gift of hearing…from God and from a person’s heart.
Job Description for Phyllis Ducey
Earthly:
- Be the best you can be at being a wife, mother, grandmother, a sister (sil), a friend, a volunteer and a member of the church.
Earthly Implementation
- Be loving, be there and listening
Spiritually
- bring honor and glory to God,
- be obedient to Him
- show His love
Spiritual Implementation
- Through gifts endowed by God
- Prayer
- Seeing
- Listening/hearing
- Gab (?)
………….To be continued in two weeks on Part 2 of My Job Description……………..
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach, if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously, if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8
“To one there is given though the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy to another distinguishing between spirit’s, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
“And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping of guidance and of different kinds of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28
“So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:11-12